Pharmacokinetics assessments of red propolis prenylated benzophenones

• Grant number: 21/03788-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2021
• End date: June 30, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy
• Principal Investigator: Jairo Kenupp Bastos
• Grantee: Arlindo César Matias Pereira Filho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/04138-8 - Attainment of chemical, analytical, biological, pharmacological and technological studies to fill the gaps on the development of Brazilian propolis sector, AP.TEM

Abstract

Brazilian red propolis is a resinous product found in hives from Northeast Brazil. This type of propolis has gained increasing attention from international markets due to its pharmacological activities. Biological studies performed with red propolis report that it has cytotoxic and anti-tumor activity against several types of Cancer in vitro and in vivo models. According to the literature, this activity is due at least in part to the prenylated benzophenones present in its composition. Thus, red propolis can be considered a source of new molecules with potential for use in chemoprevention and adjunctive therapy against Cancer. For this to occur, chemical and pharmacological studies are necessary to guarantee safety, efficacy, and quality in the development of future drugs. Hence, this project is proposed to perform pharmacokinetic studies in silico and in vivo of the prenylated benzophenones from the standardized extract of red propolis. An analytical LC-MS/MS method will be developed and validated to quantify and obtain the pharmacokinetic profile of the benzophenones oblongifolin A and guttiferone E mixed with xantochymol present in red propolis. The study aims to contribute with pharmacokinetic data of the prenylated benzophenones present in the red propolis to be used in future studies. (AU)